New York City, San Francisco, and New Orleans are implementing COVID-19 indoor dining requirements. OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation site, has launched features that will help restaurants simplify vaccination checks. OpenTable today announced a partnership to CLEAR, a biometric security company that allows users create digital vaccine cards.
CLEAR was founded by a subscription service that helps expedite airport security. Users are asked to scan their face and eyes to confirm their identity. CLEAR has also launched Health Pass, a free service that allows users to show proof of vaccination since the COVID-19 pandemic. OpenTable will integrate CLEARs digital vaccination card with its iOS and Android apps starting September.
When you make a reservation at any restaurant that has vaccine requirements, a banner will appear at top of the confirmation page. Click the banner to create a CLEAR digital vaccination card. When it's time to eat you can access your digital vaccination card by clicking on the CLEAR button. OpenTable claims it won't store any personal health information or vaccine card data.
CLEAR works with a number of pharmacies and vaccine providers to cross-check vaccine information. Users can also scan their Smart QR code which is available to anyone who has been vaccinated in New York or California. These two options can be digitally verified. CLEAR allows users to upload information from their physical CDC vaccination cards, but this is less secure as there's no additional layer of verification.
CLEAR uses image recognition technology to identify that a photograph is of a CDC vaccination card. This adds an extra layer of security against fraud. CLEAR representatives told TechCrunch that CLEAR's digital vaccine card can be linked directly to the user's verified identity throughout the process. This helps to prevent fraud. To use the app, users will need to upload a government-issued photo and take a selfie.
These digital verifications can help to protect against fake vaccine cards and photos of others' cards. This is especially true if restaurants don't cross-check customers' vaccine cards with their IDs. Excelsior Pass is an app that allows you to check your vaccination status and link it with your health records. Hawaii is the only state that uses similar technology.
OpenTable introduced features earlier this month that allowed restaurants to include Proof of Vaccination as a Safety Warning on their restaurant profile page. Additionally, individual diners can be verified as meeting the requirements to enter specific restaurants or group restaurants. If you have already shown your vaccination card at your favorite taco place, it won't be necessary to show it again. This applies only to the individual diners and not the entire group. OpenTable recently added a direct messaging feature that allows people to contact restaurants regarding changes to their dining restrictions.
